Comoros

The Comoros archipelago has a history marked by waves of settlement from Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa. For centuries, the islands were a crossroads for trade and a haven for pirates. European powers, including Portugal and France, vied for control of the islands, with France ultimately establishing a protectorate in the 19th century. Comoros remained a French colony until 1975, when it declared independence, though the island of Mayotte chose to remain part of France. Political instability and coups have punctuated the nation's post-independence history, but the Comoros continues to strive for stability and development.